Misc.

The Albuquerque Journal did something they rarely do today.  They wrote a small item about former GOP Attorney General Hal Stratton going on the board of the extreme right wing Rio Grande Foundation.  This sort of leaves a clue to how the editor's rightwing standing influences the news.  When was the last time you saw a story about some one joining a moderate or left of center foundation board?  This particular foundation is infamous for having baseless opeds run on the paper's editorial page.  The essays are so blatantly devoid of facts that it is embarrassing.

The Legislative Finance Committee today said that remedial courses for struggling college students are ineffective and that standards for our public schools must be tougher.  At the same time four New Mexico families have filed a suit to get the state to spend more money on education citing the requirements of the state constitution.  So, it is the LFC that recommends funding levels for the schools.  More is required than tougher standards.  Increased funding would be one thing to do.  

Hurt

Governor Martinez is putting the hurt on her own state employees.  The corporate sponsored republican has now decided that she wants to weaken state employee unions by stopping dues deductions on state paychecks.

Doesn't she have something better to do?  Perhaps, as my friend Rodger suggested, she should climb into the state's tourism bus and go to Tesla headquarters and set up shop.  Greet employees.  Hand out brochures.  And maybe corner the CEO in the parking lot to offer him a bowl of green chile stew.

But no, she will spend time and political capital on screwing working people.

Life is too short.

Twenty Years Later

Garage Makeover from James Baca on Vimeo.

We finally cleaned out our garage.  I helped by taking a time lapse movie.  It really helped.  Right?  By putting this on my blog one of my best friends would say I am narcissistic.  But anyone who has a blog or facebook page are anyway.  I mean what does one need with college text books when one is approaching 70.  Stuff you always wanted to save until you realized that you haven't looked at it or even remembered you had it since the 70's.  So it is gone and now we have a garage so clean we don't want to park our cars in it.  Life is strange.  We find out the big bang beginning of the universe is for real and we worry about our slum garage.

I need to go put this movie on my facebook page.

Misc.

I was thinking yesterday of a great SciFi book series "Cities in Flight" by James Blish.  It was about the far future where entire cities could be sent into space to look for work in the expanding human colonies.  Most of the Earth cities were impoverished and had to compete for work on other planets.  They were willing to do just about anything in order to find revenues to feed their populations.

This reminds me of the fight over the Tesla battery factory by the states.  They too are willing to do just about anything to get those jobs.  The big difference here is that New Mexico is in the crapper economically while its competitors are in pretty good shape.  So, Governor Martinez, who has been asleep at the switch for three years on economic development, has finally stirred and said she is willing to call a special session of the legislature to do whatever she can to get the plant located in the Land of Enchantment.  It is about time.


Bobbi and I were captivated by the original Carl Sagan series "Cosmos" back in the 70's.  The new version airing on about half a dozen channels is excellent also.  It is my hope that every school in America show this series in Science classes.  And if the fundamentalists who believe the earth is 6000 years old don't show it in their schools it shows the weakness in their beliefs.

Correction

I mis-identified the reporter in my post from yesterday.  Stupid me.  It was Michael Coleman that was miffed.  Not James Monteleone.  My mistake and apologies to anyone's sensitivities.  I edited the post!

The Big Cash

The cash machine is being turned on by corporate America for the republican party in New Mexico once again.  No big surprise there, but one can see the real motivations here as you see this money moving down the ballot to the Secretary of State contest.

The Virginia based Republican State Leadership Committee will be sending money to defeat democrat Maggie Tolouse Oliver in her bid to oust republican Dianna Duran in hopes that they can continue to use Duran to suppress the vote of poor people and minorities.  This committee is helped along by it's co-chair Governor Susana Martinez.  It is shameful and embarrassing.

The Secretary of State's race may be the most important statewide contest this year.  If people are to be allowed to vote without hassles and intimidation then Maggie must be elected.  I am not talking about the issue of showing an ID at voting time.  That doesn't bother me so much.  But making it hard for people to register to vote or messing around with unnecessary paperwork and voting time would have a real effect on the working poor.  This is what the republicans aim to do with Duran.

Send every dime you can to Maggie Tolouse Oliver to help her beat down corporate interference in our democracy.  You can find her website here.

Dear Michael

Michael Coleman of the Albuquerque Journal, usually pretty factual, was miffed this morning because Senator Martin Heinrich did not return his calls.  He wanted to talk to him about the CIA's kerfuffle with the Senate Intelligence Committee.  Heinrich had shown some real courage on taking on the spy agency.  See my last post.

So, Michael, I am sorry you were  stiffed on the story.  But you must understand that any politician who isn't a fossil fuel loving, fundamentalist christian crazy, and rightwing war monger just can't trust the Albuquerque Journal Editor who will twist the facts that the otherwise decent reporters gather.  Yes, it is getting that bad and everyone knows it.  Any communication with that publication turns into a right wing rant on the editorial page.

I feel sorry for these few remaining journalists who rattle around the largely empty newsroom.  They take the brunt of the outrage.

Having said that, the Journal has been doing some interesting and informative journalism lately.  But they didn't involve politics.

IN ABQ

Fog in ABQ.  Unusual.

Heinrich Interview

This transcript of Senator Martin Heinrich on the Diane Rehm show on NPR is worth reading.  It points out he is not afraid to take on the CIA.

SEN. MARTIN HEINRICH

10:08:12

Thank you so much for having me and thank you for covering this issue.

PAGE

10:08:17

And as a member of the Intelligence Committee, what did you think about those remarkable statements that Sen. Feinstein made on the senate floor Tuesday? Do you agree with what she was saying?

HEINRICH

10:08:30

Well, I think it was really important for her to do what she did and sort of set the factual record straight so we could have a conversation about some of the constitutional principles involved here, particularly the separation of powers and I very appreciate at the beginning of this show, you reminded listeners that this goes back to not just the recent revelations and the back and forth between the committee and that CIA, but this is really about this detention and interrogation report.

HEINRICH

10:09:07

It has been incredibly difficult to get that report out. It's been slow-walked for years. And I think that is going to be a very important piece of our history and we're going to make sure that that comes out as quickly as possible. And finally, I'd just say, you know, that the Senate Intelligence Committee's job is to oversee the CIA, not the other way around.

HEINRICH

10:09:33

And, you know, the things that Sen. Feinstein outlined in her statement, which I believe to be factual, have caused some of us, myself included, to really lose confidence in Director Brennan.

PAGE

10:09:49

Now, you voted to confirm John Brennan in 2013. Do you regret that vote now?

HEINRICH

10:09:56

I think it was a mistake.

PAGE

10:09:58

Do you think other...

HEINRICH

10:10:00

And I don't take that statement lightly.

PAGE

10:10:03

Do you think other senators who voted for his confirmation would agree with you, that it was a mistake to confirm him for that post?

HEINRICH

10:10:09

I don't want to speak for my colleagues, but I think there is real concern over a relationship that Director Brennan stated he understood that there was a great deal of mending that needed to be done to make that relationship work to the best of both the CIA and the Intelligence Committee. And unfortunately, the chasm has done nothing but widen under his leadership.

PAGE

10:10:39

Now, we heard President Obama yesterday back up John Brennan basically in brief comments that he made about this controversy. Does he bear some of the responsibility as well?

HEINRICH

10:10:49

Well, I think the executive is always responsible for their cabinet secretaries and their appointees, but I think, you know, the relationship that I've had with this administration has been incredibly positive with a few very specific exceptions. And the relationship with Director Brennan is the most obvious and difficult exception.

PAGE

10:11:14

Now, why do you think the CIA's making such an effort to prevent the contents of this document that's in question, the so-called Panetta review document, from being revealed?

HEINRICH

10:11:26

Well, I think it's really important that we put a very dark period in our history behind us. And unfortunately, this report will probably open up some old wounds and certainly looks very closely at the agency's role in all of that. But I think it's going to be critical for us to be able to learn from our past mistakes and to be able to put some of those things behind us.

HEINRICH

10:11:58

You know, I'm one that believes that some of these methods equate to torture and we need to understand where they effective, were they not effective. There's been a lot of misinformation in my view out there on some of those issues and this report will help put this, hopefully, put this era in our history behind us.

PAGE

10:12:21

Is the Senate Intelligence Committee determined to release this report publically, including references to the Panetta report?

HEINRICH

10:12:32

I can't say what's in or out of the report. I am absolutely committed to seeing this report declassified and shared with the public so that the public can make their own determinations based on the facts. And I think that you saw from Senator -- Chairman Feinstein's statement on the floor that she is also very committed to that.

HEINRICH

10:12:58

That makes me optimistic that it will happen. Certainly, the current back and forth has, once again, slowed that process down. But I think I don't see any putting the genie back in the bottle on this one. I certainly hope not.

PAGE

10:13:13

And Senator, just one last question. The CIA says it didn't do anything wrong. It's asked the Justice Department to investigate your committee. We hear Sen. Feinstein says she thought that was an effort at intimidation. Is that how you view it?

HEINRICH

10:13:27

I think it's, once again, sort of an effort to muddy the waters here. There's certainly no moral equivalency between, you know, potentially breaking a rule or an agreement and on the other side violations of executive orders, statute and ignoring the Constitution. I think what's most important, once again, and I'm comfortable with a very thorough review of all the facts, I think that's critical if we're going to get to the bottom of this.

HEINRICH

10:13:59

But once again, I think we need to return to fact that at the end of the day, we're going to fight to make sure that this report comes out because that's what all of this relates back to.

PAGE

10:14:08

Senator, thanks so much for joining us on "The Diane Rehm Show."

HEINRICH

10:14:12

Thank you for having me.

Much Ado About Nothing

Governor Susana Martinez vetoed money that State Land Commissioner Ray Powell wanted to help with efforts in getting the Feds to turn over unwanted BLM lands to New Mexico.  He wants more lands to help fund early childhood education.

This is all meaningless.  The Feds won't just give land to the State Land Office.  They aren't allowed to do so.  They do participate in land trades.  That is the best route to follow.  And any lands that Powell might trade for would not be valuable and spin off any real revenue.  Except maybe lands around Dona Ana County and Santa Teresa.  And that land would be traded on a value to value basis. It wouldn't be a give away.

If Ray wants to continue his effort he should just tap his own State Land Maintenance Fund for the money he wants.  It is possible.  That is the way I got preliminary planning money for Mesa Del Sol in the early 80's.  No one in the legislature cared.  And it would be a shot across the Governor's Bow to challenge the immense constitutional powers of the Land Commissioner.  Probably not Ray's style and he has milked this pretty good for a campaign issue.

Misc.

It is really pretty amazing that our legislature continually rolls over for big business.  Yesterday I was thinking how Texas and Arizona had screwed themselves out of contention for the Tesla Battery Factory by not allowing direct sales of Tesla cars with in their borders.  Today we find out that the same is true for the Land of Enchantment.  The big car dealers, like all big  business, just have their way with our lawmakers in protecting themselves from competition.  It may not be a showstopper for our state given that we don't pass crazy laws on abortion and against gay citizens.  Texas and Arizona won't be looked favorably on by the modern and left of center Tesla company executives.  So, it may just come down to New Mexico and Nevada.  Here is hoping we can compete.  My money would be on southern NM with its new rail transportation hub near Santa Teresa.  I really want to buy one of those Tesla cars.  When they start mass production of a cheaper version I will get one.  My roof top solar panels can fuel it!

We are in an age of constant surveillance.  That is why I am intrigued about the missing Malaysian airliner.  How can it just disappear without a clue?  This may be one of our future urban legends and the subject of SciFi movies.  Remember the "Maria Celeste?"

Heinrich

We all owe a debt of gratitude to Senator Martin Heinrich and Senator Tom Udall for being resolute in holding the CIA accountable for domestic spying.  Our New Mexico Senators probably had a hand in Senator Diane Feinstein taking the spy agency to the woodshed yesterday for spying on Senate computers and staff.  Heinrich was an early alarm system for the unfettered spying on our own citizens.  It shows one more side of Heinrich.  He is not afraid to do the right thing.

Misc

The Bloomfield city government, run by fundamentalist zealots, seems intent on proving that they will do anything to force their religious beliefs on the populace.  Their "monument" to the Ten Commandments is subterfuge and it defeats their own arguments that they would not force others to favor their religion.  It is almost comical.  It makes them liars, really.

Attorney General Gary King says he will stay in the race for Governor despite the humiliation of being left out at the Democratic Convention.  Sometimes, we all live in a bubble of one sort or another.  I have not talked to a single voter in the last few days that thinks he can win the Primary or General election.  I am not trying to be malicious here.  Just realistic.

The Albuquerque Journal has been somewhat readable the last few days.  I especially enjoyed their story on Juarez, Mexico.  It was over due.  Their story today on the US Forest Service Drug Sweep at Taos Ski Valley was excellent.  Their editorial page still sucks.

The Road Ahead

The pothole that is the pre primary nominating convention for the Democrats is behind us.  The road ahead is pretty much wide open for the candidates that got their 20% of the delegate votes.  However, for Gary King the road ended up in a brick wall.  The well known Attorney General son of Governor Bruce King is finished after a dismal showing at the convention.  If the convention is nothing more than an insider game then he really should have done better.  His laid back approach to campaigning and carrying out his official duties just isn't working and it might be time to bow gracefully out and support a candidate after the primary.  Senator Linda Lopez is also a candidate for that graceful effort and she can be content with the fact that she did better than Gary.

State Senator Howie Morales proved himself the insider at the convention.  He out organized the other candidates but now every thing will shift out of convention mode into real world mode.  Both Lawrence Rael and the anointed outside candidate Alan Webber eked out their ballot counts to get into the game .  Now, once again, the real campaign to get people to listen will begin.  Morales is an unknown to the average voter as is Webber.  Rael has some name i.d. of those left standing.  Really, anything can happen.

After a winner is announced following the primary election in June the realities of this race will settle in.  Just how much money can a Democrat raise in New Mexico for the Governor's race?  Probably no more than a million dollars.  Which means the democrat is going to have to show national appeal in trying to bring down the Corporate Queen Susana Martinez.  Her oil and coal boys and right wingers will fund her with what ever it takes to win.

I am thinking they will raise her more than 10 million if needed.  And that is the problem with politics today.  It is all money.

Some people think that you can point back to the infamous race of Phil Maloof for Congress, saying that money isn't everything.  He outspent his opponent greatly but still lost.  Mostly because he knew nothing about issues and the job of being a congressman.  It showed.  So his expenditure of money didn't really mean much.

But, this was all before our U.S. Supreme Court turned corporations into people with unlimited power to funnel money into campaigns.  They know how to use that money and that is what is at work in this Governor's race.  Meanwhile, the people sleep, oblivious to their being squashed by the 1 per centers.

90's

We were chatting over coffee the other day about the 2016 general election.  We came to the conclusion that the media and the pols want to return to the 90's, and none of us thought that was a good idea.  The names of Clinton and Bush keep coming up.  The question is, do we want to go there?  Do we want to return to either of those dynasties?  Will this country just keep going back to the same old families and recycling?

Of course, we would support Hilary if she is the nominee for the democrats.  We would support anyone that isn't a republican.  But it might be time for a whole new crew to start running things.  Some one smart and not affiliated with the Tea Party, neo cons, or road blocking revenge artists.

As far as New Mexico races in 2014, the level of excitement three months from the Primaries is almost non existent.  The media seems content to put up puff pieces lauding the incumbents (republicans) and the democratic challengers for Governor seem to be wandering aimlessly looking for someone to listen to them.  All while the rightwing Albuquerque Journal editor does editorials weekly that practically canonizes republican office holders.

And the public sleeps.  Perhaps they should read "The Next America" by Paul Taylor of Pew Research.  Things are changing and it is time to stop looking backwards.

Pan to Fire

I mean really, Governor!  If a viral video of your police officers shooting at a van load of kids isn't enough to strain their reputation then why pile more credibility problems on?  Why would they want to keep changes to the training curriculum at the police academy a secret?

Susana, you have been pretty adept at controlling the media.  You only appear on your terms and the lame editor and reporters don't seem to ever go off script.  But they just couldn't ignore the secrecy on this issue and frankly cracks have appeared in you p.r. teflon.

And while we are at it, could we possibly get some transparency on the APD Academy curriculum?  It would be nice to see it some time too, if the Mayor could show some backbone in not rolling over for the cop shop.

Cast the First Stone

As we all lament the bizarre reasoning behind Putin's invasion of the Ukraine's Crimea we should stop and think.

1. Afghanistan
2. Iraq
3. Panama
4. Grenada
5. Drones and missiles into Yemen, Pakistan, and Somalia.  At least.

As far as double standards go, our nation is the expert in their exercise.

Misc.

If Governor Susana Martinez doesn't remind you of George Orwell's book, "1984", then you probably never read it.  She is trying to change history by rewriting what really happened in the just concluded legislative session by saying she supported a raise in the minimum wage.  Her "Big Brother" advisors from the right wing thought they could get away with it, but even the Albuquerque Journal cast a suspicious eye at that  assertion.  Not that anyone cares about her lying but it is nice to know she has not rewritten history to her advantage.

It looks like New Mexico is at the top of one list for the country.  That would be the number of nuts that we have.  The state's Pecan farmers harvested a record 75 million pounds of nuts this year as new orchards came on line.  It is a great cash crop that sells for almost $2 a pound.  Now, if you could remind those farmers of the amount of public money that went into building the irrigation works to help produce those nuts, that would be good.  And don't forget the Rural electrical projects of the 30's that brought power to these areas and the many types of subsidies that farmers receive in bad times.  Yes, they are hard workers and are efficient.  But everyone has helped with this success story.  I am hopeful that with these good prices and revenues that they have let their workers benefit.

Pioneers

Two great New Mexico Pioneers passed away this weekend.  Dr. Henry Casso and Vicente Ximenez were in the vanguard of the civil rights movement in this country and helped Latino citizens realize their full rights.  I was fortunate to know them both.

I met Dr. Casso many years ago when he was working in public relations and I was a newsman at Channel 7.  Little did I know then that many years later I would hire his daughter Luisa as communications director for the Mayor's office.  She is now an executive with the Coca Cola Company.

I grew up knowing Vicente Ximenez.  He and his family lived just a block away from us in the close northeast heights of Albuquerque.  We were playmates of his children and saw him often.  Vicente was a founding member of the American GI Forum along with my uncle, Deacon Jaime Baca.  They fought hard for Latino war veterans rights and civil rights in general.

You can read Vicente's obituary here.   You can read Henry's obituary  here.

Hawks

As the war hawks scream for action of some sort on Putin's Russia marching into the Crimea, just think of one thing.  That would be the fact that the U.S. has troops in over one hundred and fifty countries around the world.  These hawks are so arrogant and have such a double standard that they won't connect the two issues.  They will now fight harder than ever to keep building tanks an combat planes that we don't need.

 Here is a nifty little chart to remind you where the militarists are supreme.  Click on it to make it large.